How to Make a Meatloaf Even Better

Liven up your meatloaf with a few simple changes.

For many, meatloaf means ketchup and ground beef, but there are dozens of ways to prepare this traditional meal. A few simple changes, from the type of meat you use to the fillers and the sauce, can make a big difference in flavor and texture. For the best meatloaf, start with the best ingredients. High quality meats, non-traditional fillers, different vegetables, and even fruit can make a moist, flavorful dish. Even something as simple as changing the sauce you use to dress the meatloaf can produce very different results. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Things You'll Need

• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp. onion, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp. mustard, Dijon or mustard powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 lb. ground meat
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar

Instructions

Simple Changes to Improve Meatloaf

1. Cook with different meats. Try ground veal, pork, turkey or a mixture of different meats.

2. Cook with different fillers. Breadcrumbs (or chunks) are standard. Try panko, flavored crackers, corn flakes, matzo, seasoned breadcrumbs, flavorful bread (such as rye or sourdough) or any other dry, bread-like ingredient.

3. Add flavor by including 1 tbsp. of minced garlic, ginger or other aromatic to the meatloaf before cooking.

4. Add vegetables or fruit. Grated carrots add color and moisture, as well as a nutrients. Bell peppers are a common addition. Diced apples give moisture and flavor.

5. Wrap meatloaf with bacon strips. Bacon adds a salty flavor and the fat keeps the meatloaf moist.

6. Dress the meatloaf with a different sauce. Ketchup (either alone or mixed with sugar or corn syrup) is traditional. However, you can dress your meatloaf with any sauce. Sweet and sour sauce works with an "Asian" style meatloaf. Tonkatsu sauce and plum sauce are both sweet sauces that complement different types of meat. Chili sauce (either sweetened or plain) gives it a spicy kick.

Applesauce Meatloaf

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Mix bread crumbs, egg, 1/2 cup applesauce, celery, onion, 1 tsp. mustard, salt and pepper in a large bowl.

3. Add meat and mix to incorporate.

4. Shape mixture into a loaf and place in a greased 8-by-8-by-2 inch baking or bread pan.

5. Mix 1/2 cup applesauce with brown sugar, vinegar and 1/2 tsp. mustard.

6. Make a trench in the center of the meatloaf with the back of spoon and fill with applesauce mixture.

7. Bake for one hour.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a meat substitute (such as Go Lean sausage or ground beef) in place of ground meat for a vegetarian meatloaf.

• Use textured vegetable protein mixed with ground meat to cut down on the meat content.

• Always make sure meat is fully cooked. A meat thermometer is the easiest way to determine this. The target temperature depends on the type of meat used. 170 degrees is a good baseline for pork, beef and lamb.

References

• " New Cook Book"; Better Homes and Gardens; 1976